< Ramblings | Main | Gratitude >

Pregnancy brings out the vegetarian in me

Posted at 5:30 PM on May 14, 2008 by Sareen Dunleavy Keenan (5 Comments)

Brendan finds this admission completely against the vows of our marriage. I cannot help it. I promised love, fidelity, meat eating and no pets. Who knew that the babies wouldn't like the meat?

The wedding didn't go quite like that, but Brendan is passionate about animal based protein. I sincerely think it is the most difficult part of both of my pregnancies for him. If I am not eating meat, what will I eat? How will he know I am getting the proper nutrition? Because of this, I have to think up what we will have for lunches.

We make one large dish and bring it to work throughout the week for lunch. This is a huge money and time saver, but I have to be willing to eat it. Last week I asked for spaghetti and meatballs. I figure, if I am going to eat meat, it could at least be on my terms and not mixed totally into something so I don't know if I have veggie or meat. Surprises aren't good when you are eating for two. Trust me. Instead of meatballs, I got Spaghetti Bolognese with both sausage and beef stew meat. Super.... double the meat.

This week for dinner I asked for Chicken Parmesan. Same premise. I am eating the meat, but it is in one large piece, and one boring boneless skinless piece at that. Try two had the same results. I got double meat. At least this time it was pretty, and stuck with the concept of meat and pasta being separate.

Actually, it was more than pretty. It was quite tasty. Local chicken pounded and rolled with a local pork sausage. As far as I know, aside from the Parmesan, this dish was totally local! I guess to stay interested in local eating you have to mix it up sometimes. Glad I have someone else to run the kitchen!

Comments (5)

Sareen,

I understand completely. Any chance you can use soyballs or cannellini beans in things like pasta as a compromise? (although I have yet to find local soyballs!)

Good luck satisfying your carnivores and your herbivore needs.

April

Posted by April | May 16, 2008 4:53 PM

April, I don't know if I mentioned, but my husband is a big man (6'6''). I think that you have mentioned that your husband is big and works outside right? Anyway, he claims that he cannot be satisfied by veggie meals. I will look around for some soyballs, but it is a huge hurdle to even talk about a non-meat meal... *sigh* -sdk

Posted by Sareen Dunleavy Keenan | May 17, 2008 1:42 PM

In my defense the chicken was halal, so it needed the sausage to add some juiciness back in the mix.
Brendan

Posted by Brendan | May 19, 2008 3:25 PM

Hi Sareen,
I hope the meatless pregnant lifestyle is working out a little better for you now. Actually, it's me (the OTHER Eastern blogger with a seasonal/month-related name, haha) who has a very large husband who works outdoors and loves meat. (I don't know how big April's husband is, but I believe he's the one with the food allergies.) Anyway, I can understand your dilemma. I think my husband would just start crying if I told him I was making soyball spaghetti. My dad is the same way: If it doesn't include meat, it's not a meal. I still haven't come up with a good local solution for hungry husband's lunches. Good luck...
Happy local eating,
Autumn

Posted by Autumn Long | May 19, 2008 4:14 PM

I have tried to sneak some meals in from a vegetarian cookbook but I see him shuffling the food around on the plate looking for the "real food." Argh! Even the beans and rice he made the other day had ground pork. Seriously.

My hungry husband is having local lasagna for lunch this week. He has access to a microwave through. We tend to do more dinner things for lunch and more lunch type foods for dinner. That way he could get away with the less manly but still local food options that seem good for lunch w/o having to show his coworkers. I don't know how well that works for the outside professions though... Brendan *just* sits at a desk all day. :)

Posted by Sareen | May 20, 2008 3:29 PM